Research on the design, construction, and cost of facilities for animals, agricultural products, agricultural inputs, equipment, and other materials is included. The properties and behavior of the above animals, products, equipment, and materials while in various facilities and during transport or processing is a part of this research.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Engineering aspects of design and construction of structures and facilities.
• Physical, chemical, and biological aspects of the production of fertilizers, pesticides, feeds, and hormones.
• Engineering aspects of materials handling, transport, land use, and storage of crop, forest, and range products.
• Studies on biological, chemical, and physical properties of materials.
• Behavior of chemical and biological materials in storage systems.
• Determining costs and benefits of construction or engineered systems.
• Determining maintenance needs and costs of agricultural systems.
• Facilities for handling, processing, and storing new food and fiber products, animal feeds, forage, and bedding.
• Structures and facilities for housing and handling animals.
• Facilities for handling and storing fuel, fertilizers, pesticides, and other farm supplies.
• Environmental control of structures for animals, plants, or agricultural products.

• Safe handling and use of materials and equipment. (Use RPA 723)
• Facilities that reduce environmental stress in animals. (Use RPA 306)

Research on mechanization to increase efficiency and decrease labor requirements in agricultural and forestry production such as: grain, fruit and vegetable crops, timber, livestock, poultry, fish, and other animals is included. Machinery and power units for the pre- and post-harvest of various animal and plant products are included in this research.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Tillage, planting, chemical application, and harvesting systems for agricultural and range systems.
• Harvesting systems for forestry, including roads, transportation, and access for in-woods processing.
• Systems for establishment and regeneration of crop, forest, and range systems.
• Handling methods for animals and animal products.
• Design and evaluation of equipment used in production of agricultural, forest, and range systems.
• Application of sensors and robotics.
• Application of pesticides and crop nutrients.

• Structures and facilities. (Use RPA 401)
• Irrigation and drainage systems. (Use RPA 405)
• Safety of humans. (Use RPA 723)
• Equipment that reduces environmental stress in animals. (Use RPA 306)

Research in this area includes all aspects of collecting, storing, transporting, treating, recycling, and utilizing waste products from agriculture, forestry, and other origins. The development of value-added or alternative products from waste products is included.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Methods of collecting, storing, moving, treating, and disposing of animal, plant, food processing, municipal, and industrial wastes.
• Development of products from waste materials, including biofuels.
• Engineering and analysis of projected and existing waste disposal systems and pesticide containers.
• Recycling pre- and post-consumer wastes.
• Improved methods for mitigating environmental impacts of land application of agricultural, forestry, municipal, and industrial wastes.

• Pollution prevention and mitigation. (Use RPA 133)
• First use of under-utilized co-products. (Use RPA 502 or 511)

Instrumentation and information systems are important elements in all aspects of pre- and post-production agriculture. Sensors for detecting and monitoring and processing of the collected data can provide improved control of the production and processing of biological and non-biological materials.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Development of instruments, research technologies, and procedures that enhance agricultural efforts.
• Determining accurate and precise standards of measurement.
• Development of sensors, image processing techniques, automation, decision support systems, controls, and models.

• Experimental design and statistics. (Use RPA 901)

Water management, to include surface and subsurface drainage and all irrigation systems, is part of this research. Equipment, system design, theory, modeling, installation, operation, and maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems for more efficient use of land, water, and capital resources are included.

Areas of research include but are not limited to:

• Theory of water flow for more efficient water management system design.
• Methods of automating water management systems to reduce labor and increase efficiency.
• New concepts and improved design of drainage systems for more efficient production and environmental improvement.
• New materials, systems, equipment, and installation techniques to reduce construction and maintenance costs of drainage and irrigation systems.
• Use of solar energy and air turbulence to speed drying of poorly drained soils.
• Methods for combining irrigation, drainage, and tailwater return flow systems to increase efficiency of water and system use.
• Improved design of water management systems to reduce planning and construction costs and assure public safety.
• Methods for determining irrigation water requirements giving consideration to water use by plants, effective rainfall, and water losses during and following application.
• Equipment for uniform distribution of irrigation water with particular emphases on overhead and subsurface systems.
• Improved technology to measure and control losses of agri-chemicals from irrigated lands.

• Drainage related to controlling salinity. (Use RPA 103)